I will give Willie credit at least he said it could not be determined what type of bees they were without testing. I have a bad impression that these dogs were caged or very restricted in their area of movement.

Sincerely,Brendhan

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Funny, I just watched "swarms" on the animal planet and number three was "Yellow Jacket." Throughout the story the only pictures they showed were of bees (not wasp). The host of the show kept saying wasp but reporter and witnesses kept saying "bees." Bees get blamed even though it was not them.

So what would make the bees act like this?? I keep telling everyone the bees only get aggressive when defending their hives. Also I thought swarms were docile???

Just would like some answers because I am increasing my apiary this year and keep telling people everything is safe.

Bees will act like this for a number of reasons. They get robbed, they lose the queen, Something disturbs the nest. Swarms generally are not aggressive. However they can be aggressive if sufficiently disturbed.

Sincerely,Brendhan

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I went back and read the article.Willie the bee man called it a hive.If they had taken up residence and was disturbed for what ever reason.Dogs will eat honey bees. Was the dogs penned or on a leash?Lots of ????????'s. I am sure some one will have some thought to have the bees tested.Our aggressive "none AHB's " can really be something if stirred up.doak

I went back and read the article.Willie the bee man called it a hive.If they had taken up residence and was disturbed for what ever reason.Dogs will eat honey bees. Was the dogs penned or on a leash?Lots of ????????'s. I am sure some one will have some thought to have the bees tested.Our aggressive "none AHB's " can really be something if stirred up.doak

I am not certain but I suspect the dogs were restrained in some way.

Sincerely,Brendhan

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Ok, it was praise given to willie for suggesting that he did not know "if" they were AHB's or not.

I asked the question, "if" ANY examples could be shown for situations where dogs being killed were OTHER than AHB attacks.

I assumed you were going to show stories of PROVEN situations where NON-AHB were at fault for deaths.

I'm not going to put words in people's mouths, but I asked the question because it seems that praising Willie for not suggesting AHB, was worth doing, although I am not aware of ANY situations where proven NON-AHB were responsible for such vicious attacks. And I think it would be best for us to not promote such attacks as being non-AHB without proof they were. I do not want the public to think the average beekeeper with non-AHB are keeping bees that could be responsible for such attacks.

So now what happens....I'm handed a list of articles that are based on dog attacks. And the very first article mentions the bees being sent off for AHB testing. The second article was just details of an attack. Both are in AHB territory. I will not waste my time on the rest of them.

If you are praising willie for suggesting that he did not know if they were AHB's, and possibly suggesting they "might" not be, then lets see some stories of PROVEN attacks and deaths where non-AHB's were to blame.

Willie to me is doing a disservice to beekeepers for in a round about way, suggesting that perhaps non-AHB could be responsible. It's like saying every other death and vicious attack was AHB related, but we better not assume anything here....it's better to think that common non-AHB could be at fault....without such testing. a bad image to pass on to the public!

You can find plenty of stuff out there like this. More often than not when an attack happens and two months later the test show they were not AHB the retraction is either never printed or in a small correction notice that no one reads.

Sincerely,Brendhan

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#1 Officials shocked that the bees were not AHB. The testing was done in 2000. Nine years ago. We have come a long way in testing from 9 years ago. Not sure what type testing was done, but the reason so much time and money has been spent over the years on perfecting testing verification was due to earlier tests being very unreliable.

#2 No mention of testing

#3 No mention of testing.

#4 I'll get back too... added: I'm not sure the whole play on words about "a strain common to Mississippi" and such. I would of liked to see a straight answer. But lets not get to involved with saying "outside" AHB area. We all know that AHB "area" is anywhere a truck can drive. And I will not blow anyone out of the water...but many know of AHB long ago being released in the south, long before they crossed the Mexican border. ;)

#5 Were digging back to 1880 for a stinging event. No doubt, probably non-AHB. But 1880??? Compared to the many stinging events since the arrival of AHB, this story equates into a one in a million shot. And lets just assume that reporters back then are as bad as they are today.... ;)

#6 See the above comment in #5 but install the date as 1876

No doubt, attacks have increased dramatically over the past 10 years. And it is not due to EHB' and manged colonies. it is directly related to the arrival and spread of AHB.

I'm still chuckling about you mentioning "many" examples, then pulling two stories from the archives of the 1800's.

Thank you for your effort.

Yes, if you dig deep enough, an example of some animal being attacked could be found. (remember though that dogs have reactions and allergies just like humans. Dogs could go into shock from a few stings, just like humans. And those masses of bees numbering and reported as "Thousands" covering ol' fifi, in reality was probably about 10, after the stupid dog was bitting at the entrance of the colony. But the hysterical owner, some dear old lady, was remembered as this flying mass in the thousands. Bet we all heard about those stories from frightened homeowners, huh?) But compare that to the increased level of attacks today, and one can hardly justify that it's due to EHB's or managed hives. It is due to the AHB. Pure and simple.

You can find plenty of stuff out there like this. More often than not when an attack happens and two months later the test show they were not AHB the retraction is either never printed or in a small correction notice that no one reads.

Sincerely,Brendhan

What retraction? What retraction is needed? My point, is that officials always make some assumption that we have no clue if the bees are AHB, and testing is needed. As your first story pointed out with "willie", we never assume them as AHB and then retract later. We group this as some event that possibly could just as well be non-AHB. Retraction! Were talking retraction! Serious now...were talking retraction! Retraction! Retraction! Not a game. But retraction! (that was my AI impression... ;) )

You can find plenty of stuff out there like this. More often than not when an attack happens and two months later the test show they were not AHB the retraction is either never printed or in a small correction notice that no one reads.

Sincerely,Brendhan

You original question was very simple.Quote from: BjornBee on March 17, 2009, 06:35:46 AMHas there ever been a killing such as this by non-AHB's?

The answer is Yes through history. There have been people and animals killed by bees.

The examples going back to the 1800's show that. It does not need to be AHB to kill. I figure that is pretty basic.

Quote

What retraction? What retraction is needed?

Because if they aren't AHB it is fearmongering. And it's bad jounalism.

Quote

My point, is that officials always make some assumption that we have no clue if the bees are AHB, and testing is needed. As your first story pointed out with "willie", we never assume them as AHB and then retract later. We group this as some event that possibly could just as well be non-AHB. Retraction! Were talking retraction! Serious now...were talking retraction! Retraction! Retraction! Not a game. But retraction! (that was my AI impression... ;) )

Quote

No doubt, attacks have increased dramatically over the past 10 years. And it is not due to EHB' and manged colonies. it is directly related to the arrival and spread of AHB.

And here is where I will completely disagree with you.I doubt it. I believe it is more feeding to fear than actual reality. 18 Human deaths in 20 years by AHB which includes people who are allergic to bees and were older and have compromised immune systems does not mean that attacks have increased dramatically just the amount of focus the media gives them. We did not really start recording such issues until the media starting driving home the issue of AHB and their escape from South America and the doom and gloom they were suppose to bring with them The reality is that hasn't happened. Bad 70's TV shows like In Search Of and others were more than willing to dive head first into the shallow end of the pool because it gets ratings.

I praised Willie because normally (even his website) go off preaching the evils of AHB. Evils that in reality don't have much of a foundation. It gives the media something dramatic to put on the news and a way for researchers to ask for grants. When the count of of deaths by Bees includes those killed by EHB in 20 years i will be more impressed but they don't keep those records. Also death caused by allergic reaction even if it is AHB is irrelevant. The most recent death which took place here in Florida was someone who receive only a 100 stings. Hardly fatal to your average healthy adult. However if you are allergic 1 is to many. It is like blaming Ford for killing a pedestrian when the driver was on the cell phone. Sure it's a death it goes in the stats but it doesn't reflect the reality of the situation.

As long as let the media continue to do the fear mongering tactics it places a dark issue on bees which they do not deserve.

Sincerely,Brendhan

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Ok...since AHB arrived, 18 killed. Show me 18 people killed by non-AHB colonies. It should be easy, since the ratio of non-AHB colonies outnumber AHB colonies, and cover a larger area.

Many, if not all the AHB deaths were stinging incidents. That being where a vicious attack occurred. So lets discount those situations where a person had a reaction to a single sting. Lets keep it to vicious attacks. Yes, depending on the report, 40 to 100 people die every year from bee stings. But those are deaths based on allergic reactions, and not stinging incidents as with AHB attacks. Any bee sting would of killed those people. So do not compare apples and oranges. Were talking a "stinging incident" defined as a vicious attack by thousands of bees.

Confirmed human deaths by AHB attacks.....18.

Go ahead and list at least that many for confirmed non-AHB's? Can you?

Lets see the data of deaths to vicious attacks prior to AHB arriving. And compare that to the ratio afterwards.

Ok...since AHB arrived, 18 killed. Show me 18 people killed by non-AHB colonies. It should be easy, since the ratio of non-AHB colonies outnumber AHB colonies, and cover a larger area.

Many, if not all the AHB deaths were stinging incidents. That being where a vicious attack occurred. So lets discount those situations where a person had a reaction to a single sting. Lets keep it to vicious attacks. Yes, depending on the report, 40 to 100 people die every year from bee stings. But those are deaths based on allergic reactions, and not stinging incidents as with AHB attacks. Any bee sting would of killed those people. So do not compare apples and oranges. Were talking a "stinging incident" defined as a vicious attack by thousands of bees.

Confirmed human deaths by AHB attacks.....18.

Go ahead and list at least that many for confirmed non-AHB's? Can you?

Lets see the data of deaths to vicious attacks prior to AHB arriving. And compare that to the ratio afterwards.

Two problems those 18 include allergic reactions and compromised health issues. Also there is no kept record for EHB deaths. So I have no way to get that data because no one beyond you and I are interested in it. I would love to have because my knee jerk reaction to it is that is as high or higher than AHB related deaths.

Sincerely,Brendhan

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Ok...since AHB arrived, 18 killed. Show me 18 people killed by non-AHB colonies. It should be easy, since the ratio of non-AHB colonies outnumber AHB colonies, and cover a larger area.

Many, if not all the AHB deaths were stinging incidents. That being where a vicious attack occurred. So lets discount those situations where a person had a reaction to a single sting. Lets keep it to vicious attacks. Yes, depending on the report, 40 to 100 people die every year from bee stings. But those are deaths based on allergic reactions, and not stinging incidents as with AHB attacks. Any bee sting would of killed those people. So do not compare apples and oranges. Were talking a "stinging incident" defined as a vicious attack by thousands of bees.

Confirmed human deaths by AHB attacks.....18.

Go ahead and list at least that many for confirmed non-AHB's? Can you?

Lets see the data of deaths to vicious attacks prior to AHB arriving. And compare that to the ratio afterwards.

Two problems those 18 include allergic reactions and compromised health issues. Also there is no kept record for EHB deaths. So I have no way to get that data because no one beyond you and I are interested in it. I would love to have because my knee jerk reaction to it is that is as high or higher than AHB related deaths.

Sincerely,Brendhan

I'll disagree. Nobody is out there testing bees for people who died from a single sting. They do test when a "incident" is reported, where a vicious attack occurred. Out of the 40 to 100 people who die every year of health related or reactions, both EHB and AHB are to blame. Those stats are hard to come by.

That is why it is much easier to look at reported vicious attacks, when death occurred, and a colony located. Single sting events usually do not have colonies being found, etc.

I'll look myself, but I am sure I have seen a list of the confirmed 18 AHB deaths, and all to my memory attributed to multiple sting attacks. And nothing with EHB's comes close.